Border Day-Tripper · 26 stories

Between Two Provinces

I write about restaurant meals I encounter in Gyeonggi and the Gwangju–Jeolla region. · Writes about: Restaurants · Things to do · Cafés · Hair & beauty salons · Shopping

PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Sinnonhyeon bakery: 8-flavor Gangnam Sand gift set, Bakerist Brown

Bakerist Brown is a bakery café on Gangnam-daero 102-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul, with a Christmas teddy bear and tree decorating the entrance. On the way home from work, the writer tried Bakerist Brown's salt cream coffee (7,800 won) and a caramel & white chocolate Gangnam Sand, then picked out the new Gangnam Sand set with 8 flavors for family at home. The salty cream coffee and sweet Gangnam Sand make a great sweet-and-salty pair, and the Gangnam Sand set is a dessert gift worth recommending.

Written Nov 7, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiShopping

Farmer-run fruit and veggie grocery in Dongtan, Hwaseong: IAM Farmer

IAM Farmer (아이엠농부) is a farmer-run premium grocery mart in Bansong-dong, Dongtan, Hwaseong, set between the academy district and apartment complexes. IAM Farmer stocks fruit and vegetables brought straight from the farms, such as 3 mangoes for 10,000 won, along with freshly baked sweet potatoes, fresh fruit juice and organic packaged foods. For fresh fruit and vegetables that are affordable and varied in Dongtan, IAM Farmer is a good choice.

Written May 9, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwacheon, GyeonggiHair & beauty salons

Gwacheon hair salon patchy bleached hair dyed dark brown: Juno Hair

Juno Hair Gwacheonchungsa Station is a hair salon near Government Complex Gwacheon Station in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, that opened in April 2026. After a hair consultation and a color-swatch comparison, the blogger's patchy, faded bleached hair was evened out into a glossy dark brown. Thanks to careful consulting and attentive staff, Juno Hair Gwacheonchungsa Station makes it easy to fix uneven bleached hair, even on a first visit.

Written May 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

2-hour unlimited eel self-bar prices in Byeongjeom: Songrim Bokjangeo

Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch is an all-you-can-eat restaurant in Byeongjeom, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, serving fresh freshwater eel, pork belly and chicken neck. Adults pay ₩29,900 plus a ₩3,000 table setting fee for 2 hours at the self-bar, and the grilling guide on each table made eel easy to cook even for beginners. With a spacious hall and group seating, Songrim Bokjangeo Byeongjeom Branch is a no-fuss pick for year-end parties and team dinners.

Written Nov 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Omokcheon, Suwon sundaeguk with a no-smell refund promise: Gohyangok

Gohyangok Spicy Sundaeguk Suwon Omokcheon Branch is a sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant on Seosuwon-ro in Omokcheon-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon. On a gray, rainy day the writer had 2 bowls of spicy sundaeguk and galbi dumplings, and loved the clean, spicy broth with no gamey smell, the generous sundae and meat, and the juicy galbi dumplings. With a large car park, solo seats and free broth for preschoolers, Gohyangok is an easy gukbap spot for both solo meals and family dinners.

Written Nov 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceHwaseong, GyeonggiRestaurants

Dongtan grilled fish restaurant with Mom: Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750

Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750 Sindongtan Jikyeongjeom is a Korean restaurant on Samseong 1-ro in Byeongjeom-gu, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, specializing in fish grilled directly over an oven fire. The writer and her mother ordered the mixed grill set for 2 (42,000 won), swapped the pot rice for seaweed pot rice, and wrapped mackerel, Atka mackerel and Spanish mackerel in laver and lettuce from the self-serve bar. With a spacious hall, ample parking and a self-serve side dish bar, Baeknyeon Godeungeo 1750 is a good grilled fish restaurant in Dongtan for taking your parents.

Written May 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Suwon pâtisserie for corn & raspberry egg tarts to go: Lapelina

Lapelina Pâtisserie is a patissier-run pâtisserie tucked into an alley between apartment blocks in Cheoncheon-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon. The writer took home a raspberry egg tart (4,600 won), a corn egg tart (4,700 won) and a double vanilla tart (9,800 won) from Lapelina Pâtisserie, and the flaky pastry and gentle sweetness held up after the trip home. For egg tarts in Suwon, the corn and raspberry egg tarts at Lapelina Pâtisserie are the ones to get.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suwon Station pasta restaurant: solo lunch vongole & CDs at Hado

Hado is a dark-toned pasta restaurant on Hyanggyo-ro in Paldal-gu, Suwon, between Suwon Station and Haenggung-dong. Dining alone, the writer ordered the lunch à la carte vongole pasta (16,900 won), a grilled baby cabbage salad (9,000 won) and a raspberry red sangria (10,000 won), and listened to a Kim Dong-ryul album on the table's CD player. Hado is a Suwon Station pasta spot that suits a solo lunch as well as a blind date or a date.

Written Oct 27, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongsan, SeoulRestaurants

Noksapyeong Korean set meal with mom: deodeok tteokgalbi at Modam

Modam Itaewon is a modern Korean dining restaurant on the 1st floor of the Mondrian Hotel near Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan, Seoul. The writer and her mom had two ₩45,000-per-person sets: assorted seafood jang (soy-marinated seafood) with gamtae (seaweed) butter rice, and grilled deodeok (mountain root) with charcoal-grilled tteokgalbi (short rib patties). She enjoyed how the meal flowed like a course from the starters to the perilla leaf sorbet. With private rooms and a meet-the-parents table featuring a mandarin duck setting, Modam Itaewon is worth shortlisting for a formal family meal in Itaewon.

Written Oct 25, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiRestaurants

Solo tonkatsu at Suwon Station: counter seat, kimchi nabe, Gohobi

Gohobi Katsu is a Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant on the ground floor of a building on Maesan-ro, near Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi. Dining alone at the far end of the counter, the writer had the loin katsu set (13,000 won) and the kimchi cheese nabe tonkatsu (15,000 won). The crispy pork loin cutlet paired well with the spicy, cheese-melted kimchi stew, and paying at the seat made the visit easy. For a tonkatsu spot near Suwon Station where eating alone feels comfortable, Gohobi Katsu is a strong fit.

Written Oct 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSuwon, GyeonggiCafés

Dog-friendly Suwon Station café with an angry cat badge: Hongrad

Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is a dog-friendly café with American vintage decor on the 2nd floor of a building behind Suwon Tax Office, near Suwon Station in Suwon. Looking for somewhere to go with a dog, the writer ordered a passion fruit ade, a mocha latte and a Hongrad brownie at Hongrad Suwon Station Branch and received a badge of 'Ku', an angry cat, for writing a receipt review. Hongrad Suwon Station Branch is an easy Suwon Station café for anyone driving in with a dog, since parking is available at the old Gyeonggi Provincial Government building lot.

Written Oct 23, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeocho, SeoulCafés

Rainy-evening study café in Sinnonhyeon: jam egg sandwich, Selecto

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe is a 24-hour auto-brew café on Gangnam-daero 79-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seocho, Seoul. Looking for somewhere to study on a rainy evening, the writer ordered Geisha Blend and Mocha Blend Americanos with an egg sandwich spread with strawberry jam, then checked out the partitioned solo booths and the 24 AutoPrint printing corner. For laptop workers who want seating, coffee, snacks and printing in one place, Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon is worth a return visit.

Written Oct 19, 2026Sponsored